KUWAIT CITY, Aug 17: Shop owners and tenants of the Muthanna Complex have sounded an alarm over a government decision ordering them to vacate their premises within 30 days, describing the move as “surprising, unfair, and destructive” to businesses that have been built and sustained over decades.

The Ministry of Finance recently issued an official letter instructing tenants to evacuate the complex by August 31, ahead of plans to re-tender the property for public bidding. The sudden deadline has left business owners shaken, with many saying they risk losing not only their livelihoods but also the trust of international suppliers and employees who depend on their operations.

In an appeal published by Al-Seyassah / Arab Times, tenants issued a direct plea to the Finance Minister and the Acting Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, Dr. Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem. They urged him to intervene and treat them like the handling of Souq Sharq, where tenants were allowed to continue operating even after the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract expired.

“Our stores are home to well-known international brands and unique collections,” the tenants said. “We invested our sweat, savings, and years of hard work into building these businesses. Forcing us out in just 30 days will cause huge losses, displace employees, and destroy capabilities that took decades to establish.”

Tenants stressed that the eviction not only harms local investors but also contradicts the government’s stated goals of economic diversification and foreign investment attraction under Kuwait Vision 2035. They warned that such decisions could damage Kuwait’s reputation as a stable and reliable commercial hub.

“Souq Sharq is proof that respecting tenant rights and contracts strengthens market stability and investor confidence,” they argued. “Applying the same principles to Muthanna Complex would enhance Kuwait’s image as an economic hub that honors its commitments.”

Several shop owners also insisted that the eviction decision violates existing laws governing tenant rights. They cited provisions stating that when ownership of a property changes hands, existing leases remain valid and are transferred to the new owner, provided the tenant is already in occupation.

“This eviction order disregards our legal rights and constitutes a breach of humanitarian norms,” one tenant said. “It treats us as though our decades of investment and contribution to Kuwait’s economy mean nothing.”

While voicing their frustrations, tenants also revealed they have long endured poor maintenance, unsanitary conditions, and organizational chaos at the complex for more than 15 years. Despite this, they continued to invest heavily in their businesses, importing global brands, rare collectibles, and specialized merchandise.

“Now, after years of surviving in such conditions, we are being forced out without fair consideration or compensation,” they added.

The tenants are calling on the Ministry of Finance to reconsider the eviction or, at the very least, to adopt an approach that balances public interest with the protection of long-standing businesses. Many emphasized that sudden displacement not only affects owners but also employees, suppliers, and the broader commercial ecosystem in Kuwait.

“Kuwait has ambitions to be a regional financial hub under its Vision 2035,” one shop owner noted. “But evicting investors without due process undermines that vision. Stability, fairness, and respect for contracts are the foundation of investor confidence.”

For now, uncertainty looms large over the Muthanna Complex as its tenants wait for an official response from the government. What remains clear is that the dispute has raised critical questions about how Kuwait manages BOT projects, tenant rights, and its broader economic ambitions.